Warriors FC vs Garena Young Lions

(14 October, Saturday, 7.30pm, Choa Chu Kang Stadium)

Written by: Rashid Sulaiman

Warriors FC will look to arrest a three-game winless run in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S.League when they entertain Garena Young Lions at Choa Chu Kang Stadium on Saturday night.

Razif Onn’s side currently sit fourth with 30 points in 19 games, seven points behind Home United who have two games in hand.

In addition, a run of just two wins in their last nine S.League games means they are now 20 points behind leaders Albirex Niigata (S).

In their previous two league match, they suffered a 2-0 reverse against Geylang International before holding title-aspirant Tampines Rovers to a 1-1 draw.

With those results, head coach Razif has admitted that it might be a tall order for them to achieve their target of a top-three finish this season.

“We needed the three points badly but we couldn’t win in the first half, they kept coming at us on the sides and that’s a bit worrying. The goal came from the right side and the ball was not intercepted,” said Razif after the match against the Stags.

“Now it’s hard to get third, we’re just focusing on our remaining five games and try to get as many points as we can.”

Captain Shahril Ishak has meanwhile called on his teammates to give their best against Young Lions and grab the much-needed win for the Choa Chu Kang-based club.

“We are left with a handful of matches in the league and we must all play to our best ability and win these matches,” said Shahril who is aiming to finish the season as the top local scorer.

“Although we defeat them in the first meeting of the season, they came back strongly and held us to a goalless draw in the second match.

“They may not have the best of season but they we must not be complacent as they are eager to win a match,” added the Singapore international who currently has nine goals in the S.League.

Razif will however need to switch things around in defence as he will be without defenders Syaqir Sulaiman and former Singapore international Baihakki Khaizan who are both suspended.

For the Young Lions, they will be eager to pick themselves up from a 7-1 defeat by Brunei DPMM a week ago.

Head coach and former Singapore national team head coach Vincent Subramaniam will do his best to ensure his young players are mentally prepared for this match and repeat their earlier showing in the season where they held Warriors to a goalless draw.

“When you lose 7-1, there is nothing positive to take out of the game,” he said.

We just have to recover and get back into the next game starting brand new. Learn from the mistakes and try to be mentally stronger.”

Suspensions: Syaqir Sulaiman, Baihakki Khaizan (Warriors FC)

Warriors FC – LWDLD

20/09/17 Tampines Rovers 1-1 Warriors FC

15/09/17 Warriors FC 0-2 Geylang International

17/08/17 Balestier Khalsa 2-2 Warriors FC

04/08/17 Hougang United 0-1 Warriors FC

29/07/17 Warriors FC 1-2 Albirex Niigata (S)

Garena Young Lions – LLLLL

07/10/17 Brunei DPMM 7-1 Garena Young Lions

20/09/17 Garena Young Lions 0-1 Balestier Khalsa

15/09/17 Hougang United 2-1 Garena Young Lions

12/09/17 Garena Young Lions 0-4 Tampines Rovers

08/09/17 Garena Young Lions 0-1 Albirex Niigata (S)

Head to Head (S.League)

 

28/06/17 Garena Young Lions 0-0 Warriors FC

08/04/17 Warriors FC 4-3 Garena Young Lions

26/08/16 Warriors FC 5-2 Garena Young Lions

12/05/16 Garena Young Lions 3-1 Warriors FC

04/03/16 Warriors FC 2-0 Garena Young Lions